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Education Milwaukee Reading

Latest read: The Life of Mozart

It was a real joy to read Edward Holmes work The Life of Mozart based around a series of letters by the Mozarts. This is really a must read for anyone wanting to learn more about Mozart’s communication with his family and his amazing life.
life of mozartDon’t judge this book The Life of Mozart by its cover — especially if this book was published in 1845! From touring Europe and the excitement his operas, to his father’s wish not to raise his young children in London — a city lacking the influence of God.

I was amused to learn of a gift given to Mozart by a Polish count in exchange for a composition (when Mozart had “free time”) to feature violin.

After a year the Count wrote Mozart asking for his composition…only to receive a reply which indicated Mozart had no free time to compose! The Count’s reply: since Mozart had no problem holding a gift of gold for a year maybe he should consider returning the gift…and surprisingly Mozart did…while he continued to struggle financially with his wife and children.

Another example were two letters written by Mozart at age 22 to his father and sister while he was touring Paris with his Mother. After she suddenly died he wrote a letter home to prepare them for her death. Then four days after she died he wrote a second letter announcing her death…just before he departed Paris for Saulzberg with her body.

Edward Holmes work is wonderful. Please consider at the time (1845) of this release Mozart’s fame was not fully realized. A wonderful book worthy of a second read.

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Education Milwaukee Reading

Latest read: Mozart’s Wife

I picked up a couple of books including Mozart’s Wife after a long period (maybe a year) when I spent more time listening to his music than reading about his interesting life.
Mozart’s WifeIn my previous Mozart book post it was great to learn more about him from a scholastic point of view….building upon previous reads….but I came across Mozart’s Wife by Juliet Waldron. Historical fiction and romance?

Giddy sugarplum or calculating bitch? Did I miss author Juliet Waldron on Springer?

Providing a fictional account of Constanze life. Some parts more interesting than others.

Not really compelling enough for me. I may consider Anges Selby’s “Constanze, Mozart’s Beloved” but today I picked up Mozart and the Enlightenment (again) and re-read a chapter about his opera Cosi fan tutte. It is truly a great opera!

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Education Reading

Latest read: Mozart

As a fan of his music this book by Peter Gay Mozart (A Penguin Life) has proved to be of a surprise. Gay is able to account for more personal writings of both Wolfgang and his father than other books regarding Mozart that I have read.
mozartIt was not until I was almost half way through before everything began to get interesting in new documented relationships Mozart established with so many while traveling Europe and how frugal nobles were to both his sister and him while their father was establishing his own private audiences with royals.

This was also more of an acknowledgement of Solomon’s book and even the most recent writings and hit movie. The previously unknown story of how he withheld the death of his mother who was traveling with him showed new sources that have not been known to me previously. In the end Gay’s book will bolster the knowledge and lifestyle of Mozart and his family lead for any fan.

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Education Reading

Latest read: Nixon in Winter

Was looking forward to Monica Crowley’s Nixon in Winter : His Final Revelations about Diplomacy, Watergate, and Life out of the Arena for any Watergate insight but failed to learn anything new outside of Nixon’s predictable thought and opinions on the issue that killed his presidency . I was somewhat more interested in his insights on Vietnam.
Nixon in WinterSo what I learned was the impact of Vietnam and ultimately how it was just another part of the downfall of Nixon. I believe Nixon’s secret invasion of Cambodia which lead to campus protests, really ignited the anti-war movement and as a result began the actions of CREEP. He promised if elected he would bring peace to America, yet most Americans did not realize the resources North Vietnam used in Cambodia.

The most revealing was Crowley’s view of the Nixon’s and how he was so attached to Pat, especially when of her physical failures resulting from cancer. The insight of his devotion to her was true. In recalling video of Nixon weeping openly at her funeral somehow proved he was human in a moment of loss.

Overall this final revelation about Watergate proved little value. If memory serves me correctly this is now my 14th book about Watergate. Not sure I will pickup Crowley’s other book Nixon off the record.

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Education Reading Vietnam War

Latest read: Kent State

Kent State: What Happened and Why was a very personal, private reading experience. Raised and educated in Ohio, my father was an Army MP in the Ohio National Guard. My father’s twin brother was also an MP.
During that weekend, my father’s unit based in Toledo was called up by Governor James Rhodes.

At the time of the shooting my grandmother who was in failing health was overcome by the initial, inaccurate reports that Ohio guardsmen were shot and killed. She died that day. I was only four years of age when my grandmother passed away.

In the spring of 1970 the war in Vietnam, waging since 1959 spread into Cambodia.

The US Military began limited expansion into Cambodia which came as a shock to many Americans.

President Nixon announced Thursday April 30th the incursions by US troops into Cambodia to find enemy supplies and troops. This event drove a further wedge in America still coming to terms with the My Lai massacre the previous November.

As author James Michener followed the timeline of events, he quoted Roy Thomson, Kent’s Chief of Police that same day as stating “Kent is exceedingly fortunate in that most of the 20,000 students at Kent State University are well balanced.” Could anyone have predicted the tragedy that was to unfold?

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